BL Caligula, b. x, 275

BL MSS Cotton Caligula b. x, 275
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 93 Page 189
Thomas Randolph to Cecil, Edinburgh, March 20 1564/5

Transcribed by Thomas Wright

Whatsoever I wryte unto my Lord of Leicester, I dowte not but your Honor is privie therunto, and therefore to wryte the same agayne shulde be double paine. Of thys Quene's answer, and howe the matter was taken, that I broke last in with her Grace, touching the Quene's Majesty's resolution, I have wrytten to his Lordship, and because there are dyvers other thyngs here, which I desyre sholde come to your Honor's knowledge, which put me in greate dowte that other troubles shall ryse amongst themselves or some unkyndnes growe betwene the Quene's Majesty and her well-willers here, I thoughte good to put that in a letter unto yourselfe, to be consydered of as you finde juste cause. I heare day lie so manie and grevous complayntes of the state and governmente of this countrie, that either there is greate lacke of wisdome in those that have the chiefe charge to directe all thinges as theie ought to be, or great faulte in the subjects that throughe their disobedience no good order, be it never so well devysed, can be observed. What troubles have rysen in this countrie for religion, your Honor knoweth. All things nowe is growne into such a libertie, and her Grace taken unto herself such a wyll to do therin what she lyste, that of late, contrarie to her owne ordonnannces, as great numbers have repayred to her chappel to hear masse, as sometymes come to the common churches to the sermonde. To have her mynde altered for thys fredom that she desyreth to have all men lyve as theie lyke, she can hardlye be brought, and thinketh it too great a subjection for her, being a prince in her owne countrie, to have her wyll broken therin. The subjects who desyre to lyve in the trewe feare. and worshipping of God, offer rather their lyves agayne to be sacrificed, then that theie wolde suffer suche abomination, yea, almoste permyt herself to enjoie her masse, which is nowe more playnely and openlye spoken agaynste by the preachers, then ever was the Pope of Rome. This kmdleth in her a desyre to revenge, and bredeth in other a libertie to speake,and a wyll to attempte to amende that by force, whiche by no other meanes theie can gette reformed. What this may growe unto, excepte some spedie helpe be put unto it, I leave your Honor to thinke; for myselfe I wolde I were farre inoughe from the sight of it. Two notable blasphemes lately againste God, yet not worthylie punished, though somewhat done, with difficultie inoughe, to have the doers committed to prison. A schoole-maister in Hedington made a playe to exercise his schollers agaynste the ministers, and baptized a catte in the name of the Father, the Sonne, &c. One of the Quene's Chappell, a singing man, sayde that he believed as well a tale of Robbin Hood as any worde that was wrytten in the Olde Testament or the Newe.
Her owne masse, and the resorte unto it, such blasphemies as these unpunished, her wyll to contynue Papisterie, her desyre to have all men lyve as theie lyste, so offendeth the godlye men's consciences, and so manie besydes as desyre alteration, that it is continuall feare that these matters wyll shortly breake owte to some greate mischief. By the waye, I wyll tell your Honor a merrie tale, but verie trewe, which commonlie tales are not. There is one that attendeth upon this courte, called Moffet, who commonlie once in three yeares entereth into a phrenesie. Within these twenty dayes his passion taketh hym with suche an imagination that he is the Quene's housbonde. A great Protestante he is, and verie godlie, when he is in his witts. He came one daye into the Quene's chappell, and findyng the prieste at masse, drewe oute his sword, drave the prieste from the aulter into the vestrie, broke the challice, overthrew and pulled in pieces all the robes and reliques, crosse, candlesticks, and all that was there cutte and broken. The masse sayer was the Doctor of Sorbone, and at the hearing of it was the Quene's physition, and, as he sayth himself, never in greater feare of his lyf, and hyd hymself behinde the tapestrie untyll the execution of this masse-god was paste. Thys doth as muche anger the Quene, as it dothe please manie other, to have her sacred place thus disturbed.
These ofte debates, these common controversies betwene her and her nobles, muste needs breede great myslyking, and so often renewed, yea, almost daylie, to her greate greefe to heare of them, must needs growe to a mischief, and as theie saye, erumpere in nervum. Above all the reste, this is it that is feared that will be the breache of all good accord and quietnes of thys estate, thoughe the reste be borne with ; that is, if she matche herself with a Papiste, by whom she may be fortyfied to her intent. Of thys poynte ther is no small care taken, and muche dowte rysen, what shall become of all those that in tymes paste have so farre attempted, as to establishe here churches, and withoute her consente.
Sometimes theie take advyse to be sutors and meanes unto the Quene's Majesty, that she wil be so carefull of thys estate and of these that with all reverence and humble sorte are readie to serve her and obey her nexte unto their own soveraigne, that she will so worke and travaile, yea, and so provide for her in manage, that theie may be voide of that care which nowe theie do dowte, which theie do thynk can be no wayes so well as if those matters that so longe have been in consultation tooke effecte; as to matche her with my Lord of Leicester, beinge hymselfe a Protestante, sholde easilie inoughe bringe her to be of the same religion, or at the leaste cawse her to deale more moderately in those matters than yet she dothe. If this take not effecte, wherunto she is now meetely well inclined, assuredly whomsoever she dothe marrye, it shal be greatlye to their discontentment, besydes other things that are to be dowted of the inconveniences that maye aryse between the two realmes ; as if she either allie herselfe agayne with France, or matche with Spayne, wherof what likelyhood there is, or how she is able to bring it to passe, your Honor may knowe muche more than I. But to what ende this jornayc of my Lord of Lidington is to the cardinall, and what devises are betwene Grandville and hym, I knowe no farther then that which I wrote in my last letter. One thyng I muste also saye, that all men here that either love their commonwelthe, or knowe what a benefyt it is to lyve in peace, thynk this countrie happie if theie maye gette (as theie call still here) my Lord Roberte.
I have over longe helde your Honor in one purpose, having so manye other matters to wryte of, which I will laye before your Honor as playnely and trewely as I can, and leave the judgement to yourself, for farther is not my parte to wade. I have been alwayes of opinion that my Lord of Lenox coming into this countrie mighte do more hurte than good, wherin I never had so muche respecte unto hymself, or anye other man here, as I did what these men sholde judge of my soveraigne, or whether it might be an occasion of altering of divers men's affections towards her Majesty, who was, and yet is, accounted a protector and defender of the godlye of thys realme, in whom they had alwaies suche truste and hope, that as she hathe delivered them owte of their enemie's handes, so wolde she have a contynuall care over them, and to keepe off from them suche inconveniences as maye fall upon them. My Lord of Lenox is come home, restored and established in his lande, in place and credit with the Quene, an instrumente and readie to serve her againste anye, especiall those whom she most myslyketh. To thys ende he fortifieth hymselfe, he joyneth with those in moste straite familiaritie that are noted greateste enemies to all virtu, as Atholl, and Catnes (1), Earles, Ruthen and Hume, Lords ; the Lord Robert (2) vayne and nothinge worthe, a man full of all evill, the whole guider and ruler of my Lord Darley.
These thinges being spied and noted to the worlde, it is easie to be seen wherunto theie are bente that in their hearts are enemies to the truthe, and desyre no thinge so much as the subversion of those that have been mayntainers of the same, as in speciall the Duke, the Earles of Murraye and Argile, who nowe perceaving their intents, seeke by the beste meanes that theie can to prevent the same.
Their cheife truste, nexte unto God, is the Quene's Majestie, whom theie wyll repose themselves upon, not leaving in the meane season to provide for themselves the beste they can. The Duke, my Lord of Murraye, and my Lord of Argile, have joined themselves within these eight days in a newe bonde, to defende each other's quarrel, that is not agaynste God and theire soverayne. My Lord of Argile hath taken into his defence, in all his juste actions, the Erle of Montgomerie, alias Eglintoun (3), and intendeth to make a marriage betwene the Earle of Cassels and the Duke's daughter, or yf that cannot be, betwene hym and the Countess of Crayeforde, his nere kynswornan, and the greateste marriage in Scotlande. To bothe these Erles my Lord of Lenox hath actions, who beinge nowe thus joyned in frendshipe, shall be able inoughe to defend themselves, or yf he intende any thinge by way of deede, shall be able inoughe to debate their quarrels. Alwayes theie are loath to come to thys, and are sorrie that anye suche geste is sufferd to come amongest them that maye gyve occasion to enter into suche termes as nowe theie are forced into.
It is nowe founde by the wyseste amongest them, howe greate an oversyght it was for them to gyve their advyses to lette hym come home, and because it was muche easyer to have bene stayed by the Quene's Majestie than to be withstoode here when this Quene's affection towards his retume was knowne, theie are sorrie that her Majestie dyd so muche yelde unto her wyll to lette hym come, who maye and is lyke inoughe to be occasion of so great troubles. Of my Lord Darlie theie have this opinion, that in wysdome he dothe not muche differ from his father. The honor, countenance, and entertaynement that he hathe here, maketh hym thynke no lyttle of hymself. Some persuade hym that there is no lesse good will borne unto hym by many of this nation, then that theye think hym a fitte partie for suche a Quene. Howe easylie a yonge man so borne in hande, daylie in presense well used, contynuallie in. companie either of the beste or nexte aboute her, maye be induced either by hymself to attempte, or by persuasions of other to imagine, I leave it to the judgement of other.
Of thys Queue's mynde hytherto towards hym, I am voide of suspicion, but what affections may be stirred up in her, or whether she will be at anye tyme moved that waye, seeing she is a woman, and in all thynges desyreth to have her wyll, I cannot saye.
This is also needefull for your Honor to understande, that this Quene hathe conceaved displeasure towards my Lord of Argile. Her hatred is still mortal towards the Duke [of Chatelherault], which lately burste owte in over manie words, and in too manie men's hearing. He thynketh hymself in evil case. I fynde him more pytied and better beloved then ever he was. He keepeth contynuallie at home. Fewe of hys name repayre to the courte. Theie seeke all quietlie to live, and throughe innocencie or not offence of lawe to avoide all dangers that are intended, or what mischiefes soever shal be practised againste them, wherof theie do moste assure themselves if this Queene do marrie anye other then my Lord of Leicester, but specially if she take my Lord Darlie. This putteth no smale feare also amonge the Duglasses, for what cause your Honor knoweth. With dyvers of them of late I have had some talke. I maintayne them in good hope, the beste I can, that there is no danger that waie. From the Duke I have receaved this message, that he cannot be without feare of the overthrow of hys house, if the Lord Darlie marrye the Quene. As he hathe hytherto shewed hymself frende and servant to her Majestie, so he hopeth not a lyttle but he shall alwayes have occasion to serve and honor her during his lyfe, and make his whole house bounde unto her for ever. He did put me in remembrance of a letter wrytten unto hym by the Quene' s Majestie a lyttle before his sovereign's home coming, assuring hym of her Majesty's favour and support, if any thinge shuld be unjustlie attempted agaynste hym, he doing his dutie to his soveraigne. He wyll, therefore, repose hymselfe whollie in the Quene's Majestie, and desyreth her Highnes to have suche care over hym as one willing to serve her, and maye hereafter be able to be a frende at commandement. Of thys message was my Lord of Kylwynnie messenger, and the same agayne confirmed by my Lord of Argile, who for his owne parte offereth all service that lyeth in his power, and of whom I have receaved th'effecte of that whiche I have wrytten in my whole letter.
These thynges I dowte not shal be weighed and consydered of your Honor. To helpe all these unhappie men I dowte not but you wyll take the beste way, and this I can assure, that contrarie to my soveraign's will let them attempte, let them seeke, and lette them sende to all the cardinalls or divells in hell, it shall pass their powers to bringe any thinge to passe, so that that be not refused here that in reason oughte to content her. How longe the kingdoms will stande betwene my Lord of Murraye and Lord of Lenox, your Honor maye judge by thys, that my Lord of Lenox hath joyned hymself with those whome my Lord of Murraye thinketh worste of in Scotlande. What opinion the yonge Lord hath conceaved of hym, that latelye talking with the Lord Roberte, who shewed hym in the Scotche mappe what lands my Lord of Murraye had, and in what bounds, the Lord Darlie saide that it was too muche. Thys came to my Lord of Murraye's eare, and so to the Quene, who advised my Lord of Darlie to excuse hymself to my Lord of Murraye. The truthe, these be no matters to make or to take quarrels for, yet these suspicions, dowtes, and heart burnings betwene these noblemen maye breake owte to great inconveniences, and for my owne particular wolde not greatly e care (thoughe thys be unadvisedly spoken, for I know there is of manie of those muche good wyll borne unto me) which ende wente forward, so that the Queue's Majestie maye ever be thoughte of and reputed to be a patron and a friende to thys nation, as presently she is.
To the contrarye of muche of thys which here I have wrytten, I knowe there are some that thynk other wayes, and judge me to be deceived. Theie build more upon their owne assurance, either to be able with their tonge to persuade what theie thynke, or truste over muche to the place of credit which theie occupie. Other that sholde knowe thus muche as I have wrytten, wolde thynke I might well have forborne whatsoever I thynke or knowe to put it in wryting. Seeing my ende tendeth to their repose and weale, it cannot be thought but that I do deale with them as a frende, to take care for them in tyme. Or if nothynge of thys lyke them, I do but my dutie, where I am bounde, to let nothyng of my knowledge be hydde where either my countrie maye be hurte, or her Majesty unsatisfied or unadvertised in time of anye inconvenience that maye chance, which being foreseen is the easyer to be provided for.
These thinges being put into my heade by some of the wysest sorte, and in my judgement worthye to be considered, I have here reported them as nere as I can to the trewthe, to be thought of and weighed as you thynke them worthye. I desyre nothynge more myself then that which may be to the Queue's Majestie's contentement. I leave further for thys presente to trouble your Honor, being right sorrie that these occasions have leade so farre as thus longe to have helde you. Moste humbly I take my leave. At Edenbourge, the 20th of Marche, 1564.
Your Honor's bounden ever at commande,

Tho. Randolphs

(1) George Sinclair, fourth Earl of Caithness.
(2) The 'Lord Robert' so often mentioned in these letters on Scottish affairs, was Robert Stuart, Bishop of Caithness in 1540, created Earl of March in 1580. He was the brother of Matthew, Earl of Lennox, and the uncle of Darnley.
(3) Hugh Montgomery, Earl of Eglinton.